I honestly feel like I am in a twilight zone here. This cannot be France. Yesterday, I went to La Poste to mail something someone had bought off of me on ebay, and the lady was so extremely helpful. I had actually picked out a box, and she started scanning it and then said "Wait, I bet it will fit in this envelope, which will cost you a lot less - let me get it for you".
And yesterday AM, I filled out a form online to get the phone line in the chambre de bonne reactivated, and I thought to myself "Well, nothing will probably come of this since I'm doing it online, but it's worth a try". But about an hour later, a woman from France Telecom called to verify my request and to say that she could activate the line for me THE SAME DAY. And then I got a text message a few hours later with my new phone number, saying my line was good to go. What the hell? It took two frickin' weeks to get it set up at the gîte, and here I was thinking that was pretty damn good. I just can't believe it. I mean, you guys all know what a shitty time I've had here - maybe it really was just Fab's bad luck weighing me down the whole time. ;-)
So now I just need to decide if I want to stick with my old provider (I'm tied into them until October), or if I want to go dégroupée and go with someone else. All of this just seems too easy though, and I keep waiting for the other shoe to drop. Where is all the struggling and cajoling and fighting that I'm used to? Even my usually-crabby clients have all been in good moods. And the normally-reserved daughter-in-law of the hotel owner came to knock on my room last night to give me some of the dragées that she will be using for her wedding on June 21. She had a 6am flight to Paris today to try on her wedding dress and thus wouldn't be able to say goodbye, so she wanted to give me that as a parting gift. I was really touched.
What's so funny is to think about how I spent five whole years living in such negativity, never knowing there was a whole 'nother side to this country. Part of me worries that maybe this good luck spell will end when I get to Paris, and the other part thinks "Hey, maybe my lucky streak is finally back!" It's like that Linsdey Lohan movie where she is the luckiest girl in the world and then she falls in love with this guy and he steals all of her good luck every time they kiss.
posted by Ksam @ 8:07 AM
24 Comments:
whatever the reason, i hope it lasts
Maybe you're one of those people that life seems to smile on!
(I've been one of them for years, and I've actually had people tell me off because of it! But hey, when life gives you a lemon...)
It's like the Universe is conspiring to get you to love France again, so you'll STAY!
Hey Sam,
I must add my two cents 'cuz it's part of my life philosophy... I think that your aura is really being cleansed now that you are away from a lot of negative energy and things that weighed you down... I am in no way trying to judge anything about your past 5 years here in France... but I am going to use myself as an example... When I am down and negative, people usually steer clear of me, for some reason... When I am in a good mood and just dripping with "good energy" I seem to attract all sorts of nice, cheerful, pleasant folks around me... I am talking about total strangers.. not people I already know... I really believe that your whole aura has changed now and you are radiating all this good and positive energy... Life has thrown you some bad stones and you are tossing them off of your path and planting flowers along the way now!! I am sooo happy you are doing so well and that things have taken a big turn for you here in France... I have found that in my year and a half here... things have gone pretty smoothly and people (total strangers) have always been very nice to me... sometimes going out of their way to do nice things... I think you are bringing out some really positive energy in the people you meet around you... like attracts like... and good for you!! You are sooo deserving of all things good in your life... I'm so happy that things are finally getting easy... I think this will continue and of course you may encounter some more challenging things along your way... but you will confront them with a different attitude than before... Bonne journee!
---Leesa
I'm so happy to hear of all your happy times. France does want you to stay, you are Lindsay Lohan's long lost twin!! You are the artist formerly known as Sam de Bretagne!!
Not to get all new agey on you but you but I've always been a firm believer in the power of attraction. If you put out negativity you will attract negativity. If you put out positive energy you will attract positivity. I hope things continue to go smoothly for you during your transiton.
Wow Leesa, I just read your comment after posting my own. Seems like we're both on the same wavelength ;)
Leesa and l'étrangère are right about negative/positive energy.
Don't worry--parts of France will get back to "normal" (as far as I'm concerned, that's a fairly positive mix of good luck, smooth interations, and the occasional tear-your-hair-out hold-up), though I hope you'll never see the extremes of the past five years again.
not to worry about the good luck ending. paris is a magical place, where nooooothing bad eeeeeever happens. lalalalala!
i got it. you've been trying to swim upstream till now and g-dog wants to let you know that now you're going in the right direction!
well, somethings really changed! I'm really pleased to see how well its going for you now. I'm sure it will continue for you in Paris
:)
I believe what Leesa said. I am sure you are giving off good vibes now to people now. Maybe you have a guardian angel, too! Maybe your father? Both my parents have died and I know there are times in my life that they have been there "helping" me out. I am so happy for you, Sam. Paris will be great!!!!
I believe that Bretagne is not for everybody, en tout cas pas pour moi. I don't understand how, and why, my family stays there. Bretagne is a very beautiful region but I find most of the Bretons difficult to deal with. Tu aimeras Paris et Paris te le rendra bien.
Just enjoy it as it comes and don't think too much about tomorrow .
Keep up the positive vibes.
I'm kind of glad you're experiencing this. While I could relate to some of your previous rants, some of them seemed incredible. Maybe it was the place you were in, both physically and mentally?
In any case, croque la vie à pleine dents! (I hope I'm not mixing metaphors here.)
Yay! Funny but I think Leesa is right. Here in Mexico I have met the nicest French people! I don´t have that sterotype stuck in my head and I am open so I bet it´s helped.
I don´t know if it will continue when we go back home but I´ve seen a whole other side of French women here and I like them!
(As for SNCF, FT, La Poste and all those other French Societés I still have my doubts)
It seems you may be rediscovering the intoxicating reality: attitude creates experience!
Keep watching, Sam. Or as the Buddhists say: Be kind. Everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.
All these good things are happening because you really truly do deserve them. You have been through enough so now it is time to sit back and enjoy some pampering. I am very happy to hear things are looking up for you! Enjoy it.
-Justin
I'm so happy for you that things are going well! Enjoy it.
I hope your luck is back and it was just what's-his-name's fault. We must meet when you get settled in Paris. We will be here until 31 Juillet.
Let me the 20th person to tell you so deserve an outpouring of good luck. And, I hope that Paris is the total inverse experience of your time in Brittany. If I had the choice between the two thoughts I would stick with "Hey, maybe my lucky streak is finally back!"
Your perspective has lifted. The negativity you had been experiencing with old (sour puss) boy friend and his family shook your foundation.
You are getting your second wind and things are going your way!
encore:
how you gonna keep 'em
down on the farm
after they've seen paree?
xxx
I spent a week in Paris not long ago and found people extremely helpful. They seem to have discovered the idea of customer service -- it may take a while for it to trickle down to "les provinces."
What really struck me was how many waiters and so on spoke English to me as soon as they heard my accent! That is quite a change from 20 years ago when it was a struggle to communicate...
I think you'll find people in Paris very friendly. Don't worry about it.
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